Penn State Notebook: Players, fans show their support for Terry Smith

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STATE COLLEGE – Many in the announced crowd of 105,038 Saturday night at Beaver Stadium chanted their support for interim head coach Terry Smith in the fourth quarter Saturday night.

Then, once Penn State’s 37-10 rout of Nebraska ended, players carried printed signs that read, “Hire Terry Smith.”

“I saw them in the stands and then on the field after the game,” quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer said. “I love it. Toward the end, I did grab one, for sure.”

The chants, the signs and the endorsements were all for the sake of director of athletics Pat Kraft, who fired James Franklin as head coach in the middle of his 12th season and named Smith interim head coach on Oct. 12.

Since then, the Nittany Lions (2-6 Big Ten, 5-6) have gone 2-3, losing to Iowa, Ohio State and Indiana and beating Michigan State and Nebraska the last two weeks.

They played their finest game Saturday night, handing the Cornhuskers (4-4, 7-4) their worst loss.

“I’m going to say this right now: Terry should be the next head coach,” running back Nick Singleton said. “He just brings energy all the time. When he first took over, he didn’t flinch. He brought energy to the whole team. He’s been phenomenal. He’s been a big motivator. I’m just happy for him.”

Kraft hasn’t made any public comments in six weeks, but he reportedly pursued Texas A&M coach Mike Elko before Elko agreed to a contract extension last week.

Kraft has turned his attention towards Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer, Georgia Tech coach Brent Key and perhaps James Madison coach Bob Chesney. But it doesn’t seem like a deal with any of them is near.

Smith wore a button on his jacket recognizing the record 409 wins by the late Joe Paterno, who was his coach at Penn State from 1987-91 when he played wide receiver.

“I’ve always acknowledged Joe Paterno,” Smith said. “I wouldn’t be here if he hadn’t coached me and taught me. It was an acknowledgement that I’m proud I’ve been taught by one of the greatest to ever do it.”

Former Penn State quarterback Michael Robinson worked on the NBC crew that called Saturday night’s game. He said during the telecast that he talked with “hundreds” of former players and “every single one of them” felt that Smith should be named the permanent coach.

“It just makes things a no-brainer on who the people want as the head coach,” offensive lineman Anthony Donkoh said about the signs and chants. “The players are saying it, and the community around them are saying it.

“I feel like you have your guy. You don’t have to look anywhere else for who the next head coach here should be.”

Grunkemeyer near perfect: Penn State quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer completed 11-of-12 passes for 181 yards and one touchdown with no turnovers.

He became the first Penn State quarterback to complete 90% of his passes with at least 10 attempts in a game since Todd Blackledge was 10-for-11 at Syracuse in 1981.

“It doesn’t shock me,” wide receiver Trebor Pena said. “He’s only going to keep getting better. He hasn’t even scratched the surface yet. I’m so excited to see how he grows and builds off this.”

Grunkemeyer has completed 83-of-123 passes for 870 yards and five touchdowns with four interceptions this season.

Injury report: Defensive end Chaz Coleman was among 24 Penn State players who were listed as out on the Big Ten availability report.

Others included safety Antoine Belgrave-Shorter and four young running backs: Jabree Coleman, Tikey Hayes, Corey Smith and Quinton Martin Jr.

Senior Night: Thirty-four seniors were recognized before they played their final home game at Beaver Stadium.

Among those recognized were Drew Allar, Kaytron Allen, Liam Clifford, Dominic DeLuca, Dani Dennis-Sutton, Khalil Dinkins, Zane Durant, Tyler Duzansky, Zuriah Fisher, Alonzo Ford Jr., Kyron Hudson, Vega Ioane, Gabe Nwosu, Trebor Pena, Devonte Ross, Nolan Rucci, Drew Shelton, Nick Singleton, Zakee Wheatley and Keon Wylie.

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